They watch and learn...the tails of the educated.

Silently they watch us. When they do, their focus is unwavering. At times, it can become all too intense. However, at times, because of this intense focus, you feel appreciated, especially when your intended audience is only 'physically' present. Whether they truly understand is unknown but there are times when they seem to nod at the right cues. They can make you wonder if you are making sense, that perhaps you have transcended a communication barrier. You also know you've got to change your pace or up the ante when they start to look distracted; they are a tough crowd. If you don't, they'll steal your show or go all truant on you. Oh yes, they have also been known to just up and leave. I mean how rude is that! However, we are helpless. We can't tell them to get lost. To physically remove them would be a violation of their 'civil' rights. I mean, they have just as much right to be there, as we do. Truth be told, they have even more rights than we do, this place was theirs before it was ours.

The Silvered Leaf Monkeys (SLM)  have been coming to school for generations. When I first moved to this town back in 1987, I was amazed at how 'refined' these educated monkeys were, and still are. [*Note - The school I attended was just outside the perimeter. The current school I teach at is about 3 km away.] They sit in a groups, never interrupting the teacher, only bothering each other, never any of us, unless provoked. Even then, they'll back off unless absolutely necessary. They are a protective bunch, especially of the younger ones; the babies are orange/russet coloured. They stick up for themselves and each other. They are pretty flexible too, often amazing us with their gymnastics. Or they just sit there and look cute. If they are bored, or feel that they have nothing new to learn, they'll just sit out in the sun or find a cozy corner and snooze.

The SLM are considered encroaches by many. I say let them be. If we are tolerant of feline strays, why not the SLM. Our school is located near the Kuala Selangor Nature Park, but there have been so many instances of human encroachment that the SLM have been forced to go nomadic. People are annoyed that when they do appear in school, they tend to leave their 'mark' behind. Then again, have you ever walked past the students' restrooms after a school day? I rest my case.

I hope that KUSESSians will appreciate the SLM when they are about because the SLM is a species going extinct. People come from all over to see them and KUSESSians, you are lucky cause they have come to you... :) Just learn to respect boundries. The SLM are not pets, they are still wild creatures. If they feel that you are threatening their babies, they'll get aggressive; you know, just like the mother cats that hiss at you when you guys start cooing over their kittens. The SLM are gentle when compared to the macaques (kera), which are very aggressive. Just remember that they have been driven away from their homes and they are constantly looking for food. Do not feed them. Make sure the lids are on the rubbish bins and not by the side where you last left it, or else you'll have to clean up the mess even if the monkey did it. 

Now, I wonder if the SLM will attend my next session at the my outdoors classroom near the Taman Rasidah? If they do, you can be sure there'll be a photo update on FB..;)

http://www.theprimata.com/trachypithecus_cristatus.html.

http://www.arkive.org/silvered-leaf-monkey/trachypithecus-cristatus/image-G43385.html